Across the globe, gender equality in sports remains a complex and long-term challenge. However, recent advances are encouraging. Title IX has pushed the needle on parity, and strategic moves by governing bodies are helping to close the gap. This is also true of women’s representation in coaching and leadership positions, which remain disproportionately low. Moreover, female athletes have an opportunity to leverage their visibility to advance gender equality in sports and beyond.
Gender equality in sports is not possible without addressing fundamental, systemic issues. This is why this issue brief focuses on a range of critical areas, from increasing women’s participation in sports to developing inclusive practices. The insightful perspectives of Barr-Anderson et al. [106] highlight the power of sport to tackle deep-rooted gender discrimination, and the empowering impact of the Olympics in addressing the glaring disparities. Similarly, Capranica et al. [115, 116] expose the pervasive media bias that female athletes endure, underscoring the need to reframe gendered images of sporting events to promote equality.
Additionally, the poignant challenges that female students experience in their educational institutions are addressed by Dowling et al. [99], who reaffirm the need to incorporate gender equality in curriculums to support equitable and just learning environments. Likewise, Gerdin et al. [89, 114] champion the inclusion of mixed-gender sports such as korfball as an antidote to discrimination and as an integral cog in the journey toward gender equality. In the final analysis, the commitment of fervent educators is crucial to fostering gender equality in sports and beyond.